Car Accident Lawyers

Do You Have to Go to Court for a Car Accident?

After a car accident, it’s likely to be a stressful time as you converse with doctors, lawyers, mechanics, and various other professionals. For many, they wish they could go back in time and take a different route to their destination. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible, and victims are left with lots of stress (even when they didn’t cause the accident themselves!).

One of the most common questions is whether they need to go to court after a car accident. As a personal injury lawyer in this field will tell you, this is normally a question that arises in the very first meeting. Ultimately, we can’t ever provide a definitive answer because it depends on several factors.

Is Court Necessary for a Car Accident?

The first thing we should note is that, although Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers are trained for the courtroom, they actually prefer to avoid the whole process. Therefore, the first goal is always to get a respectable settlement before you need to enter a courtroom. With an experienced attorney by your side, there’s a chance that this is possible. It depends on the evidence, the paperwork, and the willingness of the insurance company to comply.

Will you end up in court? Here are the biggest determinants:

The Car Accident Compensation Package

Firstly, the size of the expected compensation package plays a critical role. The larger the expected package, the more the insurance company will try to negotiate. Sadly, insurance companies are businesses that have one goal in mind - to pay as little compensation as possible. You might think that insurance companies are designed to help people, but they also need to protect profits and every settlement takes away from the Christmas party fund.

The Seriousness of the Car Accident

Secondly, the severity of the accident is also important, and you’ll notice that the first two factors are related. The more serious the injury, the larger the required compensation package. Unfortunately, there’s also a correlation between the seriousness of the accident and the likelihood that it will end up in court.

The Actions of the Car Insurance Company

Furthermore, victims sometimes are forced into court proceedings because of the insurance company. Although a personal injury lawyer will always push for a fair settlement, the insurance company may not get anywhere close to what’s considered ‘fair’. Even if you share the blame, you should still get compensation for the part that wasn’t your fault.

If the insurance company fails to negotiate fairly, your Fort Lauderdale car attorney will file a lawsuit and attempt to recuperate the money this way instead. With a reliable car accident attorney, they’ll have the resources to manage a lawsuit and pursue the compensation that you need to move on with the next chapter in your life.